Yaquba McGougain, a 31-year-old resident of Peekskill, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to a weapons charge connected to the death of Antonio Antoine-Fils at the Duo Tapas Bar & Lounge in Yonkers.
McGougain was at Duo’s during a shooting on February 6th, 2022. Witnesses implicated him and three others in the shooting. One witness also mentioned someone retrieving a gun from a nearby car before and after the incident. Though a 9mm pistol was found in McGougain’s car, its use in the shooting was never confirmed.
Regardless, McGougain faced charges of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree weapon possession, pleading not guilty to all counts. Initially denying any involvement, McGougain later confirmed his identity when shown surveillance footage of the car-related activities.
A plea deal was offered when the prosecutors explained that the evidence available did not support pursuing more serious charges, such as murder, beyond a reasonable doubt.
The enhanced video analysis revealed that McGougain was approximately 12 feet away from the bar’s entrance at the time of the shooting. Forensic tests on the weapon recovered from McGougain’s car suggested that the gunshot residue would not have traveled beyond six feet, casting doubt on his direct involvement in the shooting.
In light of these developments, McGougain pleaded guilty only to the weapon possession charge, sparing him a potential 15-year-to-life sentence for murder.
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